For DMU to consider your application, you are required to submit a portfolio of your creative work to help us progress your application. All we want to see is your innovative thinking, creative problem-solving skills, and your potential to learn and develop in your chosen area of study! We understand your work is unique to you, but we've pulled together some useful advice to give you tips on what to consider and what we're looking for in your portfolio.
What we want to see:
Drawing and image making
We want to see your drawing ability in its broadest sense. This can include different types of drawing – observational (objects, people, landscapes) and conceptual (initial design sketches, ideas and development). You can show your drawing and image-making ability through different media including pencils, paint, ink, photography, moving images, collage, printmaking, Photoshop and CAD. If available, examples of sculptural work undertaken would be gladly accepted.
Photography and video-based work
We want to see your interests and abilities in still and/or moving images from a specific or broad range of techniques and/or genres. Contact sheets are not required. If you are keen to show your postproduction skills, please submit a before and after of your work. We are also looking for evidence of good and original visual communication skills and an inquisitive mind. We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work are not acceptable.
Sketchbook work
We love sketchbooks as they show how you research, explore and develop an idea. This can include references to work, exhibitions or anything else that has inspired you. You can include annotations that demonstrate your thought process and don’t be afraid to include rough sketches. (We don’t want to see lots of secondary source material e.g., magazine cut-outs, printouts from websites or photocopies from books).
Project work
We want to see how you work on a project from start to finish – the finished article and how you got there. Show your initial research, idea development, experimentation and your conclusion or final piece. Try to include one project which can be either independent work or from your current studies.
Course area advice
We want to see your 2D to 3D design development and experimentation with different materials. Include images of your 3D design work. Examples don’t need to be complex – we want to see your interest and enjoyment of manipulating materials.
We want to see your spatial awareness and visualization skills, therefore, include images of your 2D to 3D design development and experimentation with different materials. Examples don’t need to be complex; we want to see your interest and enjoyment of manipulating materials.
We want to see creative and innovative thinking as well as your spatial awareness and communication skills, therefore, include images of your 2D to 3D design development and experimentation with different materials such as sketches, models, drawings, paintings and other crafts. Examples don’t need to be complex we want to see your interest and enjoyment of manipulating materials.
We want to see your making skills and creative design processes. Be sure to include images of your 2D to 3D design development and your experimentation with different materials. Examples don’t need to be complex – we want to see your interest and enjoyment of manipulating materials.
We want to see your drawing, painting, sculpture, photographic and/or video skills in making and expression, creative risk-taking, experimentation and evidence of developmental and completed work. Images of 2- and 3 -dimensional work should evidence the range of processes and mediums you have experimented with. Photographic contact sheets are not required. If you are keen to show your post-production skills then please provide before and after images. Accompany each image with a label to explain what the image is about and what media was used. We would like to see your own artwork – the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of other artist's work is not acceptable.
We want to see creative and innovative thinking as well as your spatial awareness and communication skills. Include images of your 2D to 3D design development and experimentation with different materials such as sketches, models, drawings, paintings and other crafts. Examples don’t need to be complex – we want to see your interest and enjoyment of manipulating materials.
How to present your work
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Digital portfolios
- Arrange your work into one single multi-page PDF or PowerPoint file, as if you were presenting it yourself. You can use our template to help you.
- The contents of your digital portfolio should reflect your strongest work and contain a full range of personal artwork, coursework and include sketchbooks.
- Make sure your work is clear and easy to see with a clear background.
- Take high-quality pictures of your work and when inserting them into your presentation make sure that are JPEGS and not larger than 72dpi.
- If you are including moving images such as animation or video please use .mp4, .MOV or .AVI format.
- Ensure all work is included within this single file, rather than directing us to your website or Instagram account.
- We would like to see your own artwork - the use of AI-generated concepts and/or digitally manipulated images of another artist's work are not acceptable.
- The name of your file should include your name, student reference number and the title of the course you have applied for.
- Compress or zip your file so that it does not exceed 1GB in size and submit via www.mailbigfile.com/dmuac
Questions?
If you would like some more advice on creating or submitting your portfolio, please email us at admissions@dmu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)116 207 8443.